I'll be the first to opine. :) While I was a journalism major and have written many legal briefs, opinions on style will differ. Here's my take. I'd say there's no hard and fast rule on the use of "as you can see" in a paper. Some reasons I might not use it include its conversational tone and wordiness. Since I try to slice and dice where I can, I'd tend to use "therefore, apparently, clearly" or a similar term. Apologia's writing tends to be relaxed and conversational. Conversational style has its place (see e.g. Apologia and this post), as does a more formal tone. Pointing out differences in word choice at this point can help your ds as he writes for different audiences. As for the habit of concluding a paragraph with a question to the reader, I think it's a cop out. :) Fitting conclusions require a bit more brain work. You stated the question worked in the context of the comparison/contrast paper and maybe it did. I would think that would be the exception in most papers and would encourage him to work his way toward a conclusion that wraps up the statements, reflections and thinking done in the paper. I think one of mine had a similar habit of starting papers off with a question: "What do sports cars and fighter jets have in common?" I'd send it back so that the child could work through how to craft an appropriate topic/clincher. HTH! Lisa

If someone were to give me an older Apologia edition, I probably wouldn't spring for a new. However, I'm buying all the newer editions because they contain better diagrams and pictures and will have a better re-sale value. In comparing the 1st and 2nd editions of biology, the 2nd edition had several diagrams that helps explain certain concepts much better. It wasn't a deal-breaker, just preferrable. HTH, Lisa

Well, you can't serve everyone *all* the time, though it looks as though you are doing a pretty good job of it! It looks like your pull occurs most in the evening -- when dh may want you in bed with him, but you feel the pull to reap the best of your teens' hours. Perhaps a compromise for this stage of life (nothing is forever): your dh gets you in the morning, your kids get you on most nights, save perhaps a Friday and/or Saturday when dh gets you to go to bed at his hour. And for your well-being, I'd suggest a daily nap. :) I can put in many a long night after my littles go to bed, after a good afternoon nap. Would that help solve the sleep-deprivation? My dh goes to bed before me. Every now and again, I'll go lay down and we'll just talk before he drifts off. Then I'll pop back up (since I'm refreshed from that afternoon nap) and finish all I need to do before I get to bed. HTH. How sweet you are to want to meet your family's needs. They are blessed to have you! Lisa

Here's my ds' schedule from last year: Academic Work: Bible: family devotions; youth daily devotion book; scripture memory (no credit) Algebra II: Saxon (followed by ALEKS in the summer) Chemistry: Apologia Chem with outside lab and class Latin II: Florida Virtual School World History Honors: Florida Virtual School English I: Lively Art of Writing, Vocab for the High School Student, Late Modern Lit list Debate: through local debate club/class Outside acitivities included volunteering 1ce/week at the hospital, youth group, JV basketball and his self-employed yard work. Hours spent? Probably around 7/day at least, not including volunteer hours or any of the outside activities. I find my high schoolers' schedules are more demanding, not just due to their academic load, but also the deeper commitment of outside activities. HTH, Lisa

We only *did* it because dh came along. He took two days judging and I took one day. They are looong days -- the kids are speaking or debating or timing or getting ready for the next event from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. And I couldn't stand to be away from the baby that long for three days in a row! As for incentive, it helps that 1) I scheduled it as one of their classes; :) and 2) there is a big enough group here that my dc have made friends in this group and other out-of-town groups. The social aspect makes the research aspect much more fun! Hey, are you up for a phone call? I need to ask you a few things. Hope all is well -- Lisa

Well, *I* loved this book so much that we've read it aloud twice now. But, perhaps 6th grade boys don't find that it moves too slowly or that the 18th century romance is a bit dull. I think it's a great read-aloud because of the life lessons it teaches -- perservance, being teachable, blooming where you are planted, God is sovereign over all life events, etc. Lisa

Wow. We just returned from a 3-day NCFCA speech and debate qualifying tournament. My dh and I helped judge Lincoln-Douglas debate and I watched the Apologetics, LD and TP finals. Once again, as I am at many of these kinds of events, I was so impressed with the character of our students. They are not only outstanding thinkers, but also considerate, gracious and humble. They are eager to help each other out and seem genuinely joyful when their friends from many different states place or win. It's so neat to see a group of 13 to 18-year-olds that can laugh and horse around with their peers and just as easily help out with the 2-yr-old little brother or step into conversation with the adults around. And they're not nerdy. :) Now, gotta go get caught up with the board. :) Blessings, Lisa

Prayers will be said here for both of you, Heather and Stacey, as well as for your families. Thank you for entrusting us with your prayer needs! My family will be lifting you up down here in Florida. This is such an expression of the wide reach of the true Church -- that we down in Florida can care about you and pray for you, to God who oversees us all. May God do "immeasurably more than all you could ask or imagine." Please let Stacey and her boys know that her big virtual family cares about them and is praying for them! Lisa

One of my children has done two Precepts studies this year in co-op. I like it so much that I'm going to use it with all of my children next year. His teacher has been going chronologically through the books of the Bible so they have done Joshua and Judges this year and *may* finish with Ruth (kinsman-redeemer study). These are the adult studies. The teacher modifies it slightly by supplying some definitions or dividing one-day into a two-day lesson. It's a middle school class, though my 5th grader is the one doing it. I like that Precepts has meaningful contextual and application questions. And I LOVE that Precepts teaches Bible study skills. HTH, Lisa

I can't believe she wants to skip biology to study chemistry first! I love, love, love biology but I'm so happy to outsource chemistry! My ds did bio in 8th and chem in 9th with no problems. The only difficulty in chemistry lies in the math, not necessarily the content (of Apologia anyway. That's the only chem text with which I'm familiar). If your dd is doing fine in Alg. 1 this year, she should be ready for chem next year. HTH, Lisa

Stacey, We used SWI-C in August. I don't recall having to copy anything. Do you have one packet per student? I did; it came with a small 3-ring notebook and had all of the check-lists and samples necessary to implement the course. We were trying to get through it in 2 weeks so that my oldest could do the Continuation Course through co-op. We viewed about 1/2 of each DVD every day. Pudewa completely teaches the lesson and introduces the assignment. After watching the DVD, I sent my kids off to complete the assignment. Some were longer than others. The DVD portion usually took about 1 hour and the assignment was anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 1/2. We didn't have the luxury of first drafts and editing since we had only 2 weeks to get through the course. I haven't seen the lesson plans, but I think a good schedule might be: Day 1: watch 1/2 of DVD (end after assigns the homework) Day 2: complete first draft of homework and turn in Day 3: edit after teacher (mom) makes comments Day 4: turn in final draft If you want extra work on certain assignments, you could pull from what you are working on. I've got to go rescue a baby from the leaf piles outside. :) Enjoy! Lisa

Apologia is so, so easy to schedule. It's typically a module for every two weeks. I've used and modified the schedules available on the Donna Young cite, or made up my own. HTH, Lisa

I really, really like Apologia's Elementary series for up through 5th. We then start with General and Physical. If you have a science-minded dc, though, I would encourage delight-directed studies. Read, read, read, explore, discover, go field-tripping, do the science fair, build on the science fair projects for the next year, have him start collections. I can remember my brother (now a PhD teaching anatomy at a university) developing his love for science with obssessions about (in this order) cactus, rocks, creeks & sharks teeth, archeology, paleontology. My mom was so good to put resources in his hands to help satisfy his insatiable curiosity. HTH, Lisa

"Everything's Coming Up Fractions" with Cuisenaire rods has worked wonderfully for my children. They have each completed this after Saxon 54 and pretty much have fractions nailed before going into 76. HTH, Lisa

My oldest and science-oriented ds has done a schedule similar to that of Brigid's dc: 6th: General 7th: delight-directed studies 8th: Biology w/ lab 9th: Chemistry w/ outside lab 10th: AP Bio (Fla Virtual School) 11th: next year will be either Physics or AP Chem 12th: either Physics or an AP, depending on how 11th pans out. :) Biology isn't conceptually difficult; it's just a lot of memorization and, for my ds, one of his first true text-based classes. Chem was hard; AP Bio is really challenging him. HTH, Lisa

10 years ago? I would figure I'd lived 10 years without it and I wouldn't ask it to be rewritten at this point. Kindof a bummer, though. Lisa

I'm sorry. It is very hard to step out in obedience and not to experience a sweet pregnancy. Many blessings and virtual hugs. Lisa

I have found that math games and enrichment activities really help my dc take huge leaps in mental math and math thinking. Use the abacus, play math war, play all kinds of math facts games, use the R & S games, the Peggy Kaye math games book, living math books, grocery store math, games with coins, etc. HTH, Lisa

I don't use all the script in the lower Saxon manuals and I pick and choose the manipulative work that needs to be done. So, our Grade 3 days are not as long as the complete scripted Grade 3 days. Having said that, here's how Saxon 5/4 looks in our house. First, I start with the mental math. This is a short section which takes 3 - 5 minutes max in our house. In fact, I'm looking for mental speed and challenge my kids to try to calculate as quickly as they can mentally. The questions are not complex. After that, I teach the lesson. Again, I don't always follow the book's teaching completely. And sometimes, I combine more than one lesson a day. My teaching usually takes 10 - 15 minutes. Next, I work through all or part of the practice problems. Sometimes, we do these together orally. Today, for instance, my ds learned how to estimate mixed fractions -- 4 2/3 was closer to 5; 6 1/4 was closer to 6 and so on. This was an easy lesson. I could have combined it with the next day's lesson, but we just worked through the practice questions orally. Finally, I send my dc off to complete halfof the Saxon problems. Until my kids reach Alg. 1, they complete odds or evens (for 5/4, 6/5, 7/6 and Alg. 1/2). That's it. Very straightforward unless my dc is hung up on some concept. There are also math facts that can be photocopied and completed; these days we are using Calculadders for math fact work. HTH, Lisa

Laura, Have you called her teacher? (I'm assuming this is FLVS.) I have found my dc's Latin teachers very, very helpful. My dd just started Latin I as well and my ds will start in August if he can get in! It's always so full. Lisa

Don't mean to pick on you, Nan, but there has been plenty of this reasoning in this thread. The bottom line is what scripture teaches (unless you are Catholic and also include church teachings). In any question about what scripture teaches on an issue, we cannot look to good or bad examples to determine or affect our answer. Imperfect humans will always mess up God's perfect order. Lisa

My oldest dd used Total Health. HTH, Lisa

Aubrey, I've read this thread with interest. I have no answers, but I want to encourage you with my personal journey. I'll make it short and sweet. I was an attorney, had always planned on working part-time and having my 3 kids in Christian school. Along came #4 and then #5. At that point, I was home full-time and, though I loved my children dearly, realized I'd have a dozen quickly. So, without any prayer whatsoever, I had a tubal ligation after my 5th was born. A year or so later, God began working on me. Out of the blue. From nowhere. I didn't read any books, had never heard of *quiverfull*. God himself began speaking to me about Who controls life. All of life. He met every single objection I had. It was simply about MY trust in HIS control over LIFE. Simple and yet, not easy. I sat dh down and told him my convictions. He completely agreed. We decided that I'd have a reversal. God provided the money from some unforeseen circumstances and I underwent reversal surgery. Then after getting pregnant so easily, I waited and waited and waited. I've had two post-reveral children. But each time, I had to resubmit my trust to God. Importantly, both whether we did or did not conceive. Neither were within my control. I could tell you story after story about God's provision. I could tell you story after story of blessing. In the end, it was a matter of God calling my dh and me to something and whether we would obey. It was really, IMO, not a question that we could reasoned with. If it were, WE would be back in the control seat. Two roads. I followed one. And that has made all the difference. Many blessings, Lisa

Also, be careful about No Fear, Shakespeare. I picked it up No Fear's version of Much Ado last year to use along with a Folger's Edition for my middle-school girls book club. Yikes! Some of the translation was really vulgar and more than any of these girls had ever heard! The original Shakespeare would have gone right over their heads and not made nearly the stir that No Fear did. :o HTH, Lisa

My kids have not had to fill in any pre-made lines for their on-line classes. Ds said that his AP Human Geo class (through PA Homeschoolers) uses text boxes. His Florida Virtual School classes use Word documents, but without the lines. Ugh! That would be annoying to have to reformat every document! Lisa